Thread by @ploehmann

#swfc To follow up on @AlexMiller91's run through in the article below:

Wednesday's issue this season has been creating chances for the forwards, not the forwards converting their chances. A theme that has continued on from last season.

[thread below]

https://twitter.com/AlexMiller91/status/1374035573862711297

Our forwards this season are scoring at the same rate they were last season - a goal every third game/0.32 goals per 90 minutes - from the same general quality of chances (Expected Goals (xG) of 0.33 per 90 minutes):

The issue isn't so much our forwards scoring as it is our midfielders (and defenders) not scoring (and not getting chances).

The forwards are par for the course considering the quality of their chances, whereas defenders and midfielders "owe" 7-8 goals; same as last season:

When I did a preview of the season I highlighted we had to get more goals from defence and midfield if we were to survive:
beesanalytica.substack.com/p/article-20-s…

We'd been letting a lot of goal-scoring blood in the transfer window last season with more than half the goals scored and xG leaving including several of those overperforming the quality of chances they had:

This season it's a similar picture with the forwards - Rhodes and Paterson in particular - scoring more than you'd expect an average forward to do given the type of chances they've had.

They have been making water into wine, but from a feeble stream of H2O:

It would now be a very Wednesday fan thing for me to do to find someone to blame. "Bannan, Kachunga and Harris should be scoring more. Boo, get them out of my club, not fit to wear the shirt!".

But:

IMHO it's not as easy as saying "midfielders have to shoot more". I'd say that midfielders have to be further forward more.

After the wasted Pulis period both Thompson as caretaker and now Moore have made central midfield more dynamic, adding forward runs from Shaw and Bannan.

It doesn't necessarily mean more goals from midfield and defence (but it very likely will).

It does mean we're less predictable and thus harder to defend against; and harder to score against with ball losses happening deep in the opposition half rather than closer to our goal.

If we end up relegated the 6 points deducted (entirely on the owner of the club not signing off papers in time as per the 41 legalese pages from the Independent Disciplinary Commission (efl.com/siteassets/ima…)) will have been crucial, as will the ill-fated Pulis appointment.

Ours is a squad that struggles with the concentration to defend for long and sustained periods of games, where the game is played close to our goal and in front of a mostly static defensive line.

To hire Pulis in those circumstances seems even more diabolical.

Thankfully Darren Moore seems a much better fit for the squad (as Paul Cook were when Pulis was appointed, championed by most including me: thestar.co.uk/sport/football…) and Wednesday have generally been much more "in it" in matches during his brief time in charge than before:

cc:

@NTT20Pod

@secondtierpod

@AlexMiller91

@YesWeCrann

@domhowson

@nancyfrostick

@AlanBiggs1

@Owlstalk

@Owlsonline

@swfcsc

@SheffWedWOTMT

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